BRINGING ASIAN RACING TO THE WORLD

Michael Cox

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Purton focussed on his own rides, not Moreira or Size

Zac Purton has mastered the art of the well-timed sledge but is focused on his own situation, not that of rival Joao Moreira, as the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship reaches its climax.

After two meetings without a winner, Zac Purton leads by one win heading into Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting but true to form, he is still claiming underdog status despite trainer John Size’s dramatic drop-off in support for key rival Joao Moreira.

With four meetings remaining in the season it would seem an opportune time to fire a verbal shot, but the Australian jockey refused to be drawn on Moreira’s declining bookings for Size over the past two meetings.

“I can’t say anything for certain,” Purton told Asian Racing Report. “I hear rumours, people are speculating, but people do that all the time, but are they right? Sometimes they are wrong.”

“Do I know what the truth is? No, so would only be speculating as well. If I get offered something in a race (from Size), and I am free in a race, I take it.”

I hear rumours, people are speculating, but people do that all the time, but are they right?

Neither Moreira nor Size has addressed the sudden turnaround in support from the trainer. Moreira had just one ride for Size last Friday, and Purton three, and on Wednesday both riders have one apiece for the 11-time champion handler, who trails Frankie Lor by five in the trainers’ championship.

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Zac Purton aboard the 'giant killer' Waikuku. (Photo by HKJC)

Purton is not only staying out of the speculation surrounding Size and Moreira, he doesn’t want to ‘play the man’ and become preoccupied about where his rival is in any given race either.

“Of course I know where Joao is in a race, especially if he is on a favourite or a major threat,” Purton said. “You know where the main chances are in a main race, it’s part of being a good jockey. But I also know where the second, third and fourth favourite are as well. And of course you make life difficult for the favoured runners, but first and foremost I will still ride to win the race and I won’t sacrifice my chance in a race just to make it harder for somebody else.”

First and foremost I will still ride to win the race and I won’t sacrifice my chance in a race just to make it harder for somebody else.

While fans and media sweat on the release of declarations before each Hong Kong meeting, waiting to see which rides the premiership chase protagonists have drawn, the riders themselves are committed to rides for the remaining races of the season.

On that score, Purton believes he is up against it.

“I have every ride locked in from now through to the season finale,” Purton said. “I don’t think I have an outstanding book of rides, but they are the horses that are around at the moment and they are the best rides I can get,” he said.

“It doesn’t look like a championship-winning book for me. So I am not comfortable with the quality of rides I have got, but I don’t know what he has got. Then there are barriers and potentially more wet tracks.”

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